Portable jet stream device

ABSTRACT

A portable jet stream device for swimming pools, comprising a housing in which a propeller is arranged which is driven by a drive motor, with the jet stream device having a holder for detachable positioning in the pool, said holder having a pedestal-like supporting foot which can be positioned on the floor of the pool and with which the housing is connected in a swivelable manner via at least one first holding strut. The supporting foot is formed by a base plate parallel to the floor of the swimming pool, with preferably the bottom side of the base plate being arranged to be planar and with a closed surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portable jet stream device for swimmingpools, comprising a housing in which a propeller is arranged which isdriven by a drive motor, with the jet stream device having a holder fordetachable positioning in the swimming pool, said holder having apedestal-like supporting foot which can be positioned on the floor ofthe swimming pool and with which the housing is connected in aswivellable manner via at least one first holding strut.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Jet stream devices are used for swimming pools in order to produce acontinuous water flow in the swimming pool against the swimmingdirection of a swimming person. There are permanently installed jetstream devices which produce a water flow in the swimming pool by meansof a powerful water pump via a permanently installed wall nozzle, andportable jet stream devices which are fastened to the swimming pool orthe edge of the swimming pool as required.

DE 21 25 770 A discloses a portable jet stream device for a swimmingpool with a housing in which a drive motor is arranged. The jet streamdevice comprises a holder with a pedestal-like supporting foot fordetachable positioning in the swimming pool. In order to ensure areasonably stable positioning, the foot needs to have a relatively highown weight. A support on the wall is still necessary.

A jet stream installation for swimming pools is known from U.S. Pat. No.4,352,215 A, with the drive motor and a propeller rotating about avertical axis are arranged in a housing. The housing positioned in theregion of the edge of the swimming pool can be swivelled with thepropeller about a horizontal axis, through which the outflow directioncan be varied.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,003 A describes a jet stream installation for aswimming pool, comprising a propeller which is operated by a drive motorbeneath the water surface and which produces a water flow in the regionof the water surface. The drive motor of the portably arranged jetstream installation is operated by batteries. The jet streaminstallation is arranged to be fastened to the edge of the swimmingpool. The arrangement is relatively complex.

A removable floating jet stream installation for a swimming pool is alsoknown from U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,278 B2 which comprises a propeller whichis arranged in a housing and is driven by an electric motor. The housingcomprises floating bodies and rests on the wall of the swimming pool viabumpers. The floating arrangement comes with the disadvantage thatchanges in position occur easily with movements of water in the swimmingpool.

FR 2 886 662 A1 discloses a portable jet stream installation forswimming pools which is suspended into the pool on the edge of theswimming pool and is fastened via suction cups to the wall of theswimming pool and the edge outside of the swimming pool. Not allswimming pools are suitable for such a positioning of the jet streamdevice on the edge of the swimming pool, especially swimming poolserected above the ground. Moreover, there is likelihood in the case ofpowerful jet stream devices close to the surface that surface air issucked in, thus strongly reducing the generated water flow.

A jet stream installation with a support frame is further known from JP08-260 740 A, through which the jet stream installation can be supportedon the floor and the wall of the swimming pool. The support framecomprises length-adjustable legs for changing in the height of theinstallation position of the jet stream installation in the swimmingpool. In order to stabilize the installation it is necessary to fastenthe frame additionally to the wall of the swimming pool via anchoringelements in the region of the edge. The disadvantageous aspect is thatadditional bores are required which damage the surface of the swimmingpool. The required fixed anchoring elements also make a change in theposition of jet stream installation more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to avoid such disadvantages andprovide a portable jet stream device which can be installed easilywithout any mounting work and can be used in any swimming pool.

This is achieved in accordance with the invention in such a way that thesupporting foot is formed by a base plate parallel to the floor of theswimming pool, with preferably the bottom side of the base plate beingarranged to be planar and with a closed surface. The pedestal-likesupporting foot ensures secure footing.

The base plate can be square, rectangular, triangular, trapezoid,circular or elliptical. Other geometric shapes are also possible. In thecase of a smooth floor of the swimming pool and smooth and sealed bottomside of the base plate, the hydrostatic forces and the own weight aresufficient in the case of a base plate disposed flat on the floor of theswimming pool in order to ensure secure footing of the supporting footand to prevent tilting of the jet stream installation, even in the caseof movements of the water.

When the hydrostatic pressing forces and the own weight during operationare insufficient, additional lateral supports may be advantageous. In asimple embodiment, the supporting foot can have a support bracketnormally to the floor of the swimming pool on the side facing the wallof the swimming pool. As an alternative or in addition to this, the baseplate can have a straight supporting edge on the side averted from theflow, which edge rests on the wall of the swimming pool.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second holdingstrut is provided for the lateral support of the first holding strut orthe housing, with a first end of the second holding strut beingconnected with the housing or the first holding strut, preferably in anarticulated manner. For example, it can be provided that the secondholding strut can be connected in a detachable manner, preferably loose,with the wall of the swimming pool.

The device is fixed during operation by dividing the forces in thedirection of the wall and floor of the pool.

An especially stable standing of the jet stream device is achieved whenthe first and second holding strut open up a plane which contains themain flow axis at the outlet of the housing.

In order to achieve secure footing independent from the wall of thepool, it is provided in an especially preferred embodiment of theinvention that the second holding strut is connected with a second endin a preferably articulated manner with the standing foot. An especiallystable construction can be achieved when the first and second holdingstruts form a triangular support together with the supporting foot.

Tilting of the holder in operation can be reliably prevented when anextension of the main flow axis intersects the base plate in one pointat the outlet of the housing. In order to prevent tilting even in thecase of a flatly set flow angle, it may be advantageous when, as seen inthe direction of flow and in a plan view, the center of gravity of thejet stream device is arranged downstream of the center of the surface ofthe supporting foot, with preferably the housing protruding beyond thebase plate in the direction of flow.

Secure standing can further also be achieved when the standing foot canbe fastened in a detachable manner with at least one suction cup to thefloor of the pool.

In order to produce a water flow that is directed in an upwardlyinclined manner, it can be provided in an embodiment in accordance withthe invention that the housing is held in an articulated manner about aswiveling axis normally to the rotational axis of the propeller, withpreferably an angle between the main flow axis at the outlet of thehousing and the water surface being adjustable, which is >0°,preferably >5°, more preferably >10°.

In order to enable adjustment to height and position, it is advantageouswhen the first and/or second holding strut is length-adjustable. It canfurther be provided that at least one articulation point of the firstand/or second holding strut on the standing foot or the housing and/orone articulation point of the first holding strut on the second holdingstrut is adjustable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained below in closer detail by referenceto the drawings, which show schematically:

FIG. 1 shows a jet stream device in accordance with the invention in aside view in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a jet stream device in accordance with the invention in aside view in a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a jet stream device in accordance with the invention in aside view in a third embodiment, and

FIG. 4 shows a jet stream device in accordance with the invention in aside view in a fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Parts with the same function are provided with the same referencenumerals.

A portable jet stream device 4 is arranged in a swimming pool 1, whosewall is designated with reference numeral 2 and its floor with referencenumeral 3, which jet stream device comprises a propeller driven by adrive motor in a housing 5. The propeller, which is not shown in closerdetail, produces an upwardly inclined water flow 6, the main flow axis 6a of which encloses an angle α>0°, e.g. 25°, with the surface 12 of thewater. A person swimming in the water of the pool 1 is hit by a flowcoming from below in an inclined manner, through which the full effectof the jet stream device 4 is applied.

The jet stream device 4 can optionally be fastened in a detachablemanner via a suction cup to the floor 3 of the pool 1.

Reference numeral 16 designates an electric lead which is connected forexample with a rechargeable battery 17. It is also possible to integratethe battery in the housing 10 of the jet stream device 4. It would alsobe possible to operate the device via another low-voltage source.

The housing 5 of the jet stream device 4 can be positioned via a holder6 in the pool 1 at any desired position. The holder 6 comprises apedestal-like standing foot 7 which is arranged in the embodiments as abase plate 7 a parallel to the floor of the pool. The standing foot 7 isconnected via a first holding strut 8 with the housing 5, with thehousing 5 being pivotable about a swiveling axis 9 normally to the axisof rotation of the propeller. The jet stream device 4 can thus beadjusted to the needs of the swimming person.

In order to achieve a stable footing, the bottom side of the base plate7 a can be planar and have a closed surface, which means it is arrangedwithout any bores or the like. When the base plate 7 a rests flatly onthe floor 3 of the pool, the hydrostatic forces acting alone on the baseplate 7 a and the own weight ensure a stable footing of the holder 6.

For the purpose of additional support, a support bracket 10 which isfixedly connected with the base plate 7 a and rests on the pool wall 2(FIG. 2) can be provided. Alternatively or in addition, the base plate 7a can have a straight support edge 10 a on the side averted from theflow.

As an alternative to this, a second holding strut 11 which is connectedwith the first holding strut 8 or the housing 5 can be used for supporton the pool wall 2, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a first end 11 a of the secondholding strut 11 is connected with the first holding strut 8 on the onehand and with the base plate 7 a on the other hand, with the firstholding strut 8, the second holding strut 11 and the base plate 7 aforming a triangular support. The articulation point 8″ of the secondholding strut 11 can be arranged to be displaceable on the first holdingstrut 8, e.g. by a fixable sliding sleeve. The articulation points 8′and 11′ of the first and second holding strut 8, 11 on the base plate 7a can be adjustable. Alternatively or in addition, the first or secondholding strut 8, 11 can be length-adjustable in order to enable a changein height of the jet stream device.

Stable footing in operation is achieved especially when the extension ofthe main flow axis 6 a of the flow 6 on the housing outlet 5 aintersects with the base plate 7 a in a point P, as is shown in FIG. 4.In order to ensure stable footing of the holder when the housing 5 isswiveled and with flat angle α between the main flow axis 6 a and thewater surface 12, it is advantageous when, as seen in the direction offlow, the center M of the surface of the base plate 7 a is disposedbefore the center of gravity S of the jet stream device 4. The distancebetween the center M of the surface and the center of gravity S isdesignated with a. It is thus achieved that the reaction force of thepropeller exerts additional pressure on the base plate 7 a and pressesthe same against the floor of the pool. In accordance with FIG. 4, thehousing 5 can also be arranged to be suspended in a swivelable manner onthe first holding strut 8, which allows an especially compact and stablearrangement.

The flow 6 aimed upwardly towards the surface of the water comes withthe advantage, in addition to the effect of increasing the footingforce, that the jet stream device 4 is arranged in a powerful way on theone hand and can be positioned deep enough under the surface 8 of thewater on the other hand so that no air is sucked in from the surface ofthe water. An optimal water flow 6 can thus be produced.

1. A portable jet stream device for swimming pools, comprising a housingin which a propeller is arranged which is driven by a drive motor, withthe jet stream device having a holder for detachable positioning in thepool, said holder having a pedestal-like supporting foot which can bepositioned on a floor of the pool and with which the housing isconnected in a swivelable manner via at least one first holding strut,wherein the supporting foot is formed by a base plate parallel to thefloor of the swimming pool.
 2. The jet stream device according to claim1, wherein a bottom side of the base plate is arranged to be planar andwith a closed surface.
 3. The jet stream device according to claim 1,wherein for lateral support the supporting foot comprises a supportbracket on a side facing the wall of the pool, with the support bracketbeing arranged normally to the floor of the pool.
 4. The jet streamdevice according to claim 1, wherein for lateral support the supportingfoot comprises a straight support edge on the side facing the wall ofthe pool.
 5. The jet stream device according to claim 1, wherein asecond holding strut is provided for the lateral support of the firstholding strut or the housing, with a first end of the second holdingstrut being connected with the housing or the first holding strut in anarticulated manner.
 6. The jet stream device according to claim 5,wherein the first and second holding struts open up a plane whichcontains a main flow axis at an outlet of the housing.
 7. The jet streamdevice according to claim 6, wherein the second holding strut isconnected with a second end in a articulated manner with the standingfoot.
 8. The jet stream device according to claim 7, wherein the firstand second holding struts form a triangular support together with thesupporting foot.
 9. The jet stream device according to claim 6, whereinthe second holding strut can be connected in a detachable, manner withthe wall of the swimming pool.
 10. The jet stream device according toone of the claim 1, wherein the first holding strut islength-adjustable.
 11. The jet stream device according to one of theclaim 5, wherein the second holding strut is length-adjustable.
 12. Thejet stream device according to claim 1, wherein at least onearticulation point of the first holding strut is adjustable on thestanding foot.
 13. The jet stream device according to claim 5, whereinthe second holding strut is adjustable on the standing foot.
 14. The jetstream device according to claim 5, wherein one articulation point ofthe second holding strut is adjustable on the first holding strut, withthe articulation point being displaceable along the first holding strut.15. The jet stream device according to claim 1, wherein the housing isheld on the first holding strut in a swivelable manner about a swivelingaxis normally to the rotational axis of the propeller, with an anglebeing adjustable between a main flow axis on a housing outlet and awater surface which is >0°.
 16. The jet stream device according to claim1, wherein the housing is held on the first holding strut in aswivelable manner about a swiveling axis normally to the rotational axisof the propeller, with an angle being adjustable between a main flowaxis on a housing outlet and a water surface which is >5°.
 17. The jetstream device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is held on thefirst holding strut in a swivelable manner about a swiveling axisnormally to the rotational axis of the propeller, with an angle beingadjustable between a main flow axis on a housing outlet and a watersurface which is >10°.
 18. The jet stream device according to claim 1,wherein at least in one position of the housing a main flow axisintersects the standing foot in one point in a region of a housingoutlet.
 19. The jet stream device according to claim 1, wherein thehousing protrudes beyond the base plate in a direction of flow.
 20. Thejet stream device according to claim 1, wherein, as seen in a directionof flow and in a plan view, a center of gravity of the jet stream deviceis arranged downstream of a center of a surface of the supporting foot.21. The jet stream device according to claim 1, wherein the standingfoot can be detachably fastened at least with a suction cup to the floorof the pool.